Syracuse Sun

The work of Dana Spiotta, a renowned writer and professor of English, is gaining attention this December and January. Spiotta authored the cover story for Vogue's December issue and her novel "Eat the Document" has been adapted into an opera set to premiere in New York City in January.

The December issue of Vogue was guest-edited by fashion icon Marc Jacobs. In it, Spiotta wrote a detailed profile on Kaia Gerber, a model and emerging actress known for her online book club, Library Science. The article delves into Gerber's upbringing in the fashion industry and examines the contrast between public perception and self-perception.

In addition to her work with Vogue, Spiotta's novel "Eat the Document" has inspired an alternative opera scheduled to be performed from January 9-17 as part of the 2025 PROTOTYPE Festival in New York. This festival is co-produced by Beth Morrison Presents and HERE, organizations recognized for their contributions to contemporary opera-theatre and music-theatre.

"Eat the Document" tells the story of two anti-war activists during the Vietnam era who must assume new identities after a protest they organize goes awry. The narrative spans from the 1970s to the 1990s, exploring themes such as identity, memory, and political activism. The novel was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the American Academy’s Rosenthal Foundation Award in 2007.

The opera adaptation has been developed since 2020 by composer John Glover, librettist Kelley Rourke, director Kristin Marting, and music director Mila Henry.

Spiotta has been part of the Creative Writing Program at her university since 2009. She is recognized as one of its leading fiction writers with five novels to her name. Her works include "Wayward," named a best book of 2021 by Vogue and The New York Times; "Innocents and Others," winner of the St. Francis College Literary Prize; "Stone Arabia," a finalist for several awards; and "Lightning Field," noted by The New York Times.